Career as a dog groomer

Every dog, regardless of coat type, size, breed or age should receive regular grooming. This can be carried out by a dog’s owner or some dogs may need professional grooming. The job of a Dog Groomer is to maintain the condition of dogs' coats through bathing, clipping and trimming - and they may also advise owners on diet and coat care. Grooming is an important part of a dog's health and well-being as brushing encourages a healthy skin and good growth of a new coat as it removes dead hair, dirt and it prevents matting. A regularly groomed dog will be happier, feel more comfortable and have a healthier looking and shinier coat as brushing stimulates the blood supply to the skin.

The demand for Dog Groomers is increasing as more people have pets and there is a growing awareness about responsible pet ownership. Career opportunities are varied in this type of animal care and a good Dog Groomer should never be unemployed. To work as a Dog Groomer you will need to have a love of working with animals, an understanding of dog behaviour and an interest in learning about hair cutting and styling techniques. If you are trained and qualified as a Groomer, there are a variety of job opportunities available to you. These include working in an animal rescue centre, dog day care centres, mobile grooming vehicles, pet shops, home groomer, boarding kennels, veterinary practices, animal hospitals or working in or owning a grooming salon.

If your dream is to run your own Dog Grooming business or salon, it is advisable to complete a business course as well as grooming training. The costs of setting up a grooming salon can be quite high as you will need to buy a variety of grooming equipment including dog baths and clippers which can be expensive. You may also need to consider hiring additional help in order to run a full appointment diary and to keep your salon open when you are not available. Working as a home groomer can also be lucrative and there are less outlay costs. You will need to enjoy working with the public, have good communication skills and be willing to deal with – in some cases – highly demanding dog owners. Good customer service, being compassionate and gentle with the dogs you groom as well as being professional at all times is crucial if you wish to run a successful Dog Grooming business with returning customers.

Whilst there are varied career prospects, Dog Grooming isn't an easy or glamorous career. It involves hard physical work - a job to avoid if you are not physically fit or if you have a bad back as you will need to do a lot of bending, lifting and moving dogs in order to work on them. Be prepared to get dirty and be aware that you may have some unpleasant tasks such as dealing with ticks, fleas, lice and in some cases, severe matting. You need to be very patient, gentle and prepared to work calmly and at not be rushed. Most dogs will find a grooming salon to be a potentially threatening environment and they may be fearful – there is always a risk of being bitten and if this happens, remember it is always your fault and not the dog’s – never hit or shout at a dog if you are bitten, you will need to accept that this is an occupational risk. Dog Grooming doesn’t just involve cutting and trimming coats, you may also be required to clean ears, trim nails, bush, blow dry and style coats.

Dog Grooming should not be undertaken as a career unless you have had some training and ideally you should have had some hands on experience working with dogs. Your job as a Groomer will be made much easier if you are able to read dog body language – whilst this is something you can receive training on, it is best to gain this type of knowledge from hands on experience. Many Animal Welfare Charities run volunteer programmes and offer work experience placements; this is an excellent way to gain experience and build up your confidence for working around dogs. Alternatively volunteer to assist in a local grooming salon as this will give you an excellent opportunity to observe the many aspects of a grooming business. In addition, some salons may offer training on the job and this is another good way of getting into this industry. Jobs may be offered on this site or in local newspapers and in magazines such as Our Dogs and Dog World. To find out more about courses, contact local dog groomers, the Connexions centre or the - Pet Care Trust for advice.

Some people start by studying for an NVQ/SVQ in Animal Care (Dog Grooming) at Level 2 or 3. An NVQ/SVQ in Animal Care is also available at level 1, but dog grooming is not available within the qualification at this level.Private courses usually start with three months in the grooming school, followed by work experience for some months, returning to the school to prepare for exams. After at least 18 months' practical experience, dog groomers can enrol for the City & Guilds Dog Grooming Certificate - a two-part exam with a written paper and practical element that tests candidates' skills on three different types of dog.